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December is fast approaching and with that month comes a plethora of celebrations that require planning, days when friends and family descend at your door and you make the most of precious time spent together. Kathy Kordalis, author of Perfect Party Food To Share (Ryland, Peters & Small, £16.99), has put together a collection of recipes that ‘really celebrate fuss-free entertaining’. As she says, ‘The main purpose of getting together is to spend time with each other – it’s pointless if your guests do not see you.’

So, with a few tips and a general running order, you will be able to entertain e.ortlessly at home. There are also tips on what to buy in and what to make from scratch, plus how to make the table pretty – what more do you need for a stress-free December?

TOMATO, TARRAGON AND ONION ROASTED CHICKEN

Smoothing tarragon butter under the bird’s skin helps to baste the chicken, and the herbs add a delicious flavour to the tomato sauce. Great served warm or cold.

About Psychologies

This month we’re exploring how to truly have a happy Christmas. If you don’t have any religious beliefs, the holidays can be rather become a meaningless glut of overconsumption and commercialism, but this issue will help you explore how to create a different experience for you, your friends and family this year. And often it’s about kindness. Our interview with June Sapong explores how we can use kindness in our everyday lives to make the world a better place. One of our own relays her experience of finding the bravery and courage to start dating again. When a relationship goes sour, it’s normal to lick your wounds for a bit but how do we begin to heal and have the courage to be vulnerable and get back out there again? Ellen Tout takes us on that journey. Natalie Hourihan explores ‘creativism’ with author and entrepreneur Orna Ross and shows us how to connect with our ‘creative intelligence’ so we can design a life that works for us on our terms. The good news we all have access to this intelligence, we just need to know how to harness it!